British temple cow's ashes immersed in Ganga

February 14, 2008 02:09 IST

The ashes of Gangotri, a 13-year-old sacred temple cow in Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom, which was put to sleep in December, were on Wednesday scattered in the river Ganga by priests as per the wishes of Hindus living in Britain.

Activists of VHP also took part in the ceremonies in Varanasi as the ashes of the cow, 'euthanised' by lethal injection at Bhaktivedanta Manor in Aldenham on December 13, were brought by Manor president Gauri Das.

"Our travel to India is the final act of respect to Gangotri. We are agonised by her killing and British Hindus would voice their protest in London as an expression of solidarity," he told reporters.

The killing of the temple cow, a Belgian blue jersey cross, seems to have angered Hindus both in Britain and India mostly directed at the RSPCA.

Pandit Brahmdev Upadhyay, Vice-Chancellor of Maharishi Vishwavidyalaya in the Netherlands, said, "We are hurt by her killing and Hindus all over the world are angry. Their protest in London is an expression of the entire community."

VHP president Ashok Singhal said the "killing of Gangotri points to the apathy towards British Hindus' concerns".